Alfred julius boult



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sl1eet 1.

A. J BOULT. NEEDLE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELTED PABRIGS.

No. 461,602. Patented Oct. 20, 1 891.

Fi .2. I

wlzflawey" Irv-awiarx W f. M

5 Mum (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- A J. BOULT.

NEEDLE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PELTED FABRICS.

No. 461,602. Patented Oct. 20', 1891.

'VVE'Z Jr-esSeS IWVEJTZZ UNITED STATES PATENT FFIcE.

ALFRED JULIUS. BOULT, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

NEEDLE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELTED FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,602, dated October 20, 1891.

Application filed Febriiary 2'7, 1891. Serial No. 383,095- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED J ULIUS Room, a subject of the Queen of England, residing at London, in England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Needles Employed in the Manufacture of Felted Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of fabrics which are generally made of a foundation and acovering or facing of some other and usually more expensive or ornamental material, the two being united together by means of barbed needles passed backward and forward through the materials. Hitherto it has only been customary to make these materials with a face 7 on one side, and the fibers have been interlaced in one direction only, the only means of producing a double-faced fabric of this class having been to run it through the machine as a single-faced fabric, then reerse it and run it through the machine again to produce the second face, this of course resulting in the production of only about half the output of fabric that the machine would be capable of producing as a single fabric or, with the application of my presentinvention, as a double fabric. By the present invention I am enabled to interlace the fibers in more than one direction, and also to produce these fabrics with a face on both sides at one operation or passage through the machine.

In carrying out this invention I employ a needle barbed in both directions-that is to say, while some of the barbs face toward the point of the needle others face toward the shank of the needle. By the term barb I mean the operative face or portion of the needle which acts upon the fibers of the ma terial whether these faces project beyond the surface of the needle or not. These barbs may be arranged in any convenient manner; but generallyI prefer to place allthose barbs facing in one direction upon one axialline and those facing in the opposite direction upon another axial line, so that they may not interfere the one with the work of the other. These lines of barbs may be arranged alternately facing in reverse or different directions or in series all around the needle, or the needle may be recessed between each line or row of barbs. It will be seen that by employing needles constructed in this manner the fibers are interlaced, some in one direction during the inward travel of the needle and others in the opposite direction during the withdrawalof the needle. Usually the barbs would face in opposite directions; but the precise direction is immaterial so long as the action upon the fibers is obtained at each in or out traverse of the needle.

Where two faces are to be provided, the foundation would be placed between two laps, the needles would pass through all three thicknesses, and while the barbs facing toward the point would chiefly interlace with the foundation the fibers of the firstlap the barbs facing in the opposite direction would interlace with the foundation the fibers of the second lap.

It will be understood that although I have specially mentioned the placing of the barbs in rows I do not bind myself to that arrangement, and, if desired, even when they are placed in rows these rows may be arranged spirally or zigzag upon the needle, so that as the needle passes through the fabric every part may be covered.

Instead of making the barbs project, the effect may be obtained by removing a portion of the body of the needle in advance of the barb, thus forming a notch which would catch the fibers.

The accompanying drawings will serve to illustrate the general construction of this needle.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the lower portion of such a needle. Fig. 2 is a section upon line a b of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a section upon line 0 d of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of a needle with the barbs arranged spirally, and Fig. 5 is a section of the same.

A represents the body of the needle, and B the ridges in or upon which the barbs C may be formed, as already explained.

E are the furrows between the ridges B.

It will be noticed that while the barb O on the right-hand edge of the needle in Fig. l faces toward its point the two barbs C on the left hand of the needle face toward the shank, the other barbs being variously directed as required. In this drawing I have shown a needle with six edges, in order the more clearly to illustrate the opposite arrangement of the barbs; butthe Working needle may be made as a simple triangle with three plain flats and three ridges or angles, or with only two flats and two ridges or angles, in or upon which the barbs would be formed. With, so

many as six angles it would be preferable to hollow the flats, as shown at E.

In Fig. i I have shown a needle in which there are four rows ofteeth or barbs arranged spirally or zigzag upon the needle, so that as the needle passes through the fabric every part will be caught by the barbs.

I claim-- 1. A needle having two or more series of barbs or operative portions oppositely directed, substantially as described.

2. A needle having several rows or series of ALFRED JULIUS BOULT.

Witnesses:

WILMER M. HARRIS,

1 17 Gracechurch Street, London, E. C. JOSEPH LAKE, Of Same Place, His Clerk. 

